The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-08-27
WORKED AFTER MARRIAGE.


The practical independence of the
Massachusetts woman shows itself in
monetary sef-reliance that has pleasant
and unpleasant aspects. have in mind
a couple, type of some thousands of
others, who have been married six or
eight years perhaps. Before marriage
ne was foreman of he lasterS in the
inevitable shoe mandatory. She was
boss of the stitching room. He earned
perhaps SIS week. She earned about
Sl2 TO $14. After marriage both retained
their positions. Z 1t is part of the creed
of shoe towns that the shoemaker's wife
works in the shop. UusuRIly his wages
compel her to. When that is not the
case, habit, which has bfeddn the shoe
maker way of giving his wife no
money, compels her to all the same.
This couple keep house. They have no
children. The wife is proud of her neat
home and rises early and goes to bed
late to keep it in order out of working
hours. She washes summer and winter
before the sun is2up. She irons and
cooks and sews by lamplight. She does
all her household duties well, for she is
a genuine old-time New England house
wife. An an equivalent for this home
labor on his wife's part the husband
pays the rent and settles the provision
bills. All other money that he earns is
his and 1t would give him shock of
surprise to be called upon for penny
by his wife. If she wants furniture she
buys it, and has invested a good deal,
first and last, in upholstery and dainty
haDgings that women love. She buys
her clothing and puts what she saves
into the savings bank in her own name.
The financial relations of the two are as
well defined and as distinct from their
cOnjugal relations as if they were bust
ness partners. Even in the matter of
benefit associations they stand on an
exact equality. He inSures for her
with the Red Men, she insures for him, |
and for the same sum, in the Daughters |
of Pocahontas, whose lodges are Of
fceEed and affairs conducted entirely by |
women. He pays his assessments, she |
pays hers.
l have seen this instance repeat itself |
times. When husband |
and wife are ofs the right sort the ar
does not work badly. The |
power of the wifein such
a practical community insures her re
spect and improves her position. Both
bank accounts prosper if the pair are
they buy homestead together on very
even terms. When there are children
or the characters are Unbalanced it does
not go as well. There are women in
plenty who are dying by inches because
their husbands know that they can sup
port themselves, and by withholding
supplies compel them to do so in spite +
Of growing family and work enough
at home for any woman's strength. 1t
IS not so many women who are physic-
ally able to do two days work in one,
nor SO many men who can be trusted
With the knowledge that they can get so
much from their wivesif they try.
A great manypeople have studied the
New England girl, but her exact char
acteristics are hardto hit. Is it the alb
sence ofcertain characteristics, not the
presence of any, that strikes stranger
irst. She has not the spice of the New
Yorker, the luxuriance of the south
,rner, the dash of the westerner. You.
Miss something shout her. She is quiet
md reserved IN her dress, but not severe
enough for that to strike you as dis
inguishing mark. You meet her a
second time and third before you can
Ipply to her any special attributes
whatever. Then at last you perceive
al. 1t is only that after roses an inter
al is necessary before one can appre-
late violets. Your true New Eng
ander is seen in her perfection in Bos-
on, and, Howells and the whole crop
# Boston girl newspaper jokes
O the contrary Notwithstanding,
he is far enough from being
ggressive. Neither, on the other
land, is she icy. She is simply self
obtained, with interests enough in
lfe not to rush in utter boredom with
pen arms at any new sensation, living
q world of her own, but ready after
minute of consideration to meet you
rom third to half way. She looks at
ou with very straightforward eyes, and
she likes you, she will let you see 7
hat she has some serious notions in =
fe and holds herself to rather strict I
coount for her disposition of her time. s
she likes you very much she will
how you further that she has plenty
f fun in her, and that when she enjoys :
ny thing she enjoys it all the more
earthly because she don't spend her